Publisher's Description

DAZ Studio is the perfect tool to design unique digital art and animations using virtual people, animals, props, vehicles, accessories, environments and more. Simply select your subject and/or setting, arrange accessories, setup lighting, and begin creating beautiful artwork. Inheriting the best of version 4, DAZ Studio 4.5 introduces a new look and feel focused on ease-of-use. There are new video tutorials included within the application to help users get up to speed quickly, along with many technological innovations to improve the creation experience.

While compatible with past versions of 3D models and add-ons, DAZ Studio 4.5 enables the next generation of figures from DAZ 3D, the GenesisTM series. The Genesis series facilitates a whole new paradigm of figure creation, customization, and sharing.

Plenty of helpful information out there if you don't mind hunting and sifting through a host of useless tutorials to find one(s) that actually address whatever issues you might be having with the learning curve.

Bridge tech software works like a charm.

Easily accessible files without need for additional codecs when communicating with photoshop and zbrush

Plenty of additional software (some award-winning, I might add) packages available on DAZ website if you don't mind downloading them through the confusing install-manager.

Cons

Don't bother going to the DAZ website for community help. Their forums are filled with unanswered questions and repeat members seeking the same advice more than once.

If you do choose this product, don't be surprised if you're required to uninstall/re-install from DAZ website for registration codes. iwant.com is no longer providing them without membership and their incessant emails can be a serious inbox pain.

The installation process is a lot like flying blindfolded looking for a needle in a haystack. The install manager seems to attempt simplicity but also seems to be referring to additional products not advertised/explained and once installed, will request pathways in 'settings' tab of inaccessible software menus. I'll be honest. It took me three attempts to download and install this product before it worked properly on my high-end custom pc. In my mind, that's far, far more than annoying and just tipping the scale toward 'not worth it'

Summary

All it's complex processes aside, the actual software (once you get past the inane and insanely irritating installation process) is powerful, easy to learn, easy to port, and satisfyingly supported with ample resources to continue through the entire design process from modeling to animation and viewing of your scene/image/pose. All in all, I am happy with my decision to hold on to this product, but I most certainly WILL NOT be adding it again should it somehow spontaneously remove itself from my desktop/hard-drive... again.

Getting to it can be a real *&$%, but once you have the program working successfully on your pc, it's satisfying enough to hold on to.

Addendum: Program is no longer accessible, leaving me with a dozen different packages and two add-ons constantly sending up alerts through the W8 start-up alert system. Ironic... I just finally uploaded my review saying I wouldn't add it if it 'removed' itself one more time. Well, cest la vie. Au revoir DAZ.

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